NHL 18 Simulates 2017-18 Season

With the start of the new 2017-18 NHL season right around the corner, NHL 18 is keeping with the title’s annual tradition of simulating the upcoming campaign. Past season simulation results have eerily resembled real life outcomes.

Last season, NHL 17 shockingly predicted the Nashville Predators to win the Stanley Cup. Although the Predators didn’t win it all, they certainly shocked the hockey world by knocking the number one seed Chicago Blackhawks out of the playoffs. Nashville eventually found themselves advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals where they lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Let’s see what NHL ‘18 predicts will happen this season. You may be somewhat surprised with their results.

This season, EA’s NHL ‘18 predicts the Pittsburgh Penguins will remain in the top spot in the Eastern Conference with the Dallas Stars sitting in the number one spot in the Western Conference.

The final standings in the East have the Bruins and Hurricanes barely securing Wild Card spots over the New York Rangers and Buffalo Sabres as only three points separate the four teams.

As you can see, NHL 18 has the Detroit Red Wings finishing dead last in both Eastern Conference and the entire league which earns them the best odds of picking first in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. Check out the fully simulated Eastern Conference and the Division standings below:

EASTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS

Pittsburgh Penguins – 112 pts

Washington Capitals – 109 pts

Tampa Bay Lightning – 106 pts

Montreal Canadiens – 101 pts

Columbus Blue Jackets – 98 pts

Toronto Maple Leafs – 97 pts

Boston Bruins – 95 pts – Wild Card

Carolina Hurricanes – 95 pts – Wild Card

New York Rangers – 93 pts

Buffalo Sabres – 92 pts

Florida Panthers – 90 pts

New York Islanders – 89 pts

Ottawa Senators – 85 pts

Philadelphia Flyers – 81 pts

New Jersey Devils – 79 pts

Detroit Red Wings – 69 pts

METROPOLITAN DIVISION

Pittsburgh Penguins – 112 pts

Washington Capitals – 109 pts

Columbus Blue Jackets – 98 pts

Carolina Hurricanes – 95 pts – Wild Card

New York Rangers – 93 pts

New York Islanders – 89 pts

Philadelphia Flyers – 81 pts

New Jersey Devils – 79 pts

ATLANTIC DIVISION

Tampa Bay Lightning – 106 pts

Montreal Canadiens – 101 pts

Toronto Maple Leafs – 97 pts

Boston Bruins – 95 pts – Wild Card

Buffalo Sabres – 92 pts

Florida Panthers – 90 pts

Ottawa Senators – 85 pts

Detroit Red Wings – 69 pts

It’s a little bit of a different story in the Western Conference this season. The NHL 18 season simulation results has the St. Louis Blues finishing only one point away from making the playoffs with the Anaheim Ducks and Winnipeg Jets securing the Wild Cards.

Perhaps the biggest surprise from this season’s simulation is the Chicago Blackhawks finishing all the way down in 12th place missing the playoffs all together. If this holds true, that would be the first time Chicago missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the last 10 NHL seasons. Check out the fully simulated Western Conference and Division standings below:

NHL 18’s season simulation does not stop with winners, losers, and an eventual champion. They also have the results for various end of season award winners. As you can see, Edmonton’s Connor McDavid is predicted to take a lot of hardware home this season. Check out the fully simulated list of yearly award winners below.

END OF SEASON AWARD WINNERS

Presidents’ Trophy: Pittsburgh Penguins

Conn Smythe Trophy: Nikita Kucherov (TBL)

Hart Memorial Trophy: Connor McDavid (EDM)

Art Ross Trophy: Connor McDavid (EDM)

James Norris Memorial Trophy: Erik Karlsson (OTT)

Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy: Nikita Kucherov (TBL)

Vezina Trophy: Carey Price (MTL)

William M. Jennings Trophy: Devan Dubnyk (MIN)

Frank J. Selke Trophy: Patrice Bergeron (BOS)

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Nicklas Backstrom (WAS)

Calder Memorial Trophy: Clayton Keller (ARI)

Ted Lindsay Award: Connor McDavid (EDM)

NHL 18 is currently available in stores or for download. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out SGO’s NHL 18 review for news and information on the latest installment of the long-running hockey franchise.